La Paz  - Former world top scorer Joaquin Botero was the hat- trick hero for Bolivia on Wednesday as they stunned Argentina 6-1 on Wednesday in the South American World Cup qualifiers.

Botero, who scored 49 goals for Club Bolivar in 2002, scored from the spot in the first half and then added two in the second half to give his side a hugely popular victory against Diego Maradona's team.

Marcelo Martins put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute, but Luis Gonzalez equalized for the two-time world champions 13 minutes later. However, Botero gave his side the lead again in the 33rd minute, and Alex da Rosa widened the gap before the break.

Botero again scored in the 54th and the 65th minute, while Didi Torrico made the final score 6-1 just three minutes before the end of the game, amid shouts of "Ole!" from the stands.

It is always difficult for visitors to deal with the high altitude of La Paz, over 3,600 metres, but the result was a lot wider than any observer could have predicted.

Argentina - which had only let in seven goals in 11 qualifiers prior to this - had arrived at the game fresh from a 4-0 win over Venezuela in Buenos Aires, while Bolivia had lost 2-0 to Colombia over the weekend.

Argentina remain second in the group with 19 points, while Bolivia have 12 and are just one place off the bottom. Both teams have played 12 games.

Argentine television commentators called the performance as a "historic embarrassment" for the national team in its second competitive game under new coach Maradona.

The top four teams qualify directly for the finals, while the fifth-placed team will face a country from the North, Central America and Caribbean region in a play-off for a place in South Africa. dpa